UNGOMAP

25 April 1988 — 15 March 1990

In 1979, the Soviet Union sent over 100,000 soldiers into Afghanistan to support the pro-Soviet government that had seized power two years earlier. The regime was unpopular and armed revolt gripped the country. Despite their numeric and technological might, the Soviets and the Afghan Army failed to subdue the mujahideen resistance.

The United States, many Arab countries and China gave massive support to the mujahideen. Peace talks commenced in 1982, between the US, the Soviets, Afghanistan and Pakistan (where millions of refugees had fled, and which had become the distribution centre for arms and equipment to the mujahideen).

The four parties signed the Geneva Accord, which effectively established UNGOMAP, whose mission was to monitor and confirm the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan within an agreed time-frame. Personnel were drawn from UNTSO, UNDOF and UNIFIL, and the mission was under the control of the special representative of the Secretary General. Following the Soviet withdrawal, the OSGA(P) mission took over in March 1990.